Mahtowa is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mahtowa Township, Carlton County, Minnesota, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population was 332. The community is located between Cloquet and Moose Lake, near the junction of Interstate 35 and Carlton County Road 4. County Road 4 and County Road 61 are two of the main routes in Mahtowa. Mahtowa is located 13 miles southwest of Cloquet. Mahtowa is located 11 miles northeast of Moose Lake; and 32 miles southwest of Duluth.